Subaru Brz Speedometer Wristwatches on 2040-parts.com

Volvo XC60 R-design – more detail

Volvo has released more details of the XC60 R-Design Although the XC60 R-Design doesn’t get any sort of power boost, it does get some tweaks to the setup to provide a more sporty drive. Volvo has stiffened up the chassis and added more damping, and tweaked the steering ratios to give a quicker response.  But Volvo reckons this has virtually  no impact on ride quality (which begs the question ‘Why didn’t they do it to start with if there’s no trade-off’) and sensibly they have not gone down the lowered suspension route, so the XC60 still has good ground clearance. Volvo has added a rear seat entertainment package option to the XC60 On the cosmetic front, the R-Design gets body coloured lower section, matt silk metallic finish for the trim and chrome tailpipes.

Electric cars get a £500 million government cash boost – but will it get spent?

The new BMW i3 EV (pictured) will be subsidised until 2017. The subsidy of up to £5000 paid to buyers of electric cars has been with us for three years, but it hasn’t had much impact on EV sales and it did look like the government had decided to scrap it all together. But it looks like the coalition has allowed Nick Clegg to have his way with EV subsides in a move that will see £500 million injected in to promoting and supporting electric cars in the UK in the next few years.

Buy Dad a piece of the famed Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway

You might never get the chance to dominate the Corkscrew at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., the way Nicky Hayden and Alex Zanardi did, but you can still make your mark on the famous stretch. A spectator terrace is being constructed atop the turn, and racing fans can buy a brick etched with a name or personal message to sit on the walk of fame. It sure beats a tie for Dad on Father's Day, and all of the money raised will go to improving the raceway.